CHAPTER 29 RESOURCE ACQUISITION, NUTRITION, AND TRANSPORT IN
VASCULAR PLANTS
Scientific Skills Exercise
Teaching objective: Generally, so much emphasis is placed on enzymes and metabolism in
introductory biology that students may lose sight of the fact that not every biological process
depends on metabolism. In this exercise, students will gain experience in calculating Q10 values
and arriving at mechanistic insights into how temperature affects life processes.
Teaching tips: A version of this Scientific Skills Exercise can be assigned in MasteringBiology.
Given the ease and relative inexpensiveness of measuring seed swelling, students might be
encouraged to design and execute individual experiments aimed at elucidating some aspect of
seed imbibition. Another possible exercise would be to have the students search the primary
literature and find the Q10 values for other biological processes.
Answers:
1. The data show that the initial uptake of water by radish seeds does vary slightly with
3. Answers will vary, but should involve a treatment that inhibits metabolism. Sample answers:
Suggested Answers for End-of-Chapter Essay Questions
See the general information on grading short-answer essays and the suggested rubric at the
beginning of this document.
9. Scientific Inquiry
Acid precipitation will deposit more H+ in the soil solution. This H+ will displace cations that are
10. Scientific Inquiry
The solute potential S is equal to -(2) x (0.05) mol/liter x (0.00831 liter MPa/ mol K) x (293 K)
11. Focus on Evolution
At a depth of 25 m, there may not be sufficient light penetration for the photosynthetic rate to
12. Focus on Interactions
Sample key points:
Plants form mutualisms with many forms of soil microorganisms.
Plants provide leaf litter for earthworms to eat, while earthworms help aerate the soil.
Sample top-scoring answer:
Plants form mutualistic relationships with many types of soil organisms. For example, plants
provide leaf litter that contributes to the diet of earthworms. Earthworms, in turn, help aerate the
13. Synthesize your Knowledge
As a water molecule in the soil solution, I am bound to other water molecules by hydrogen
bonds. We are being tugged toward a plant root by a negative pressure. We are taken up through
